Discover your military ancestors through the Harts Army List of 1840. The list includes the names of serving, reserve and retired officers. Uncover dates of commissions, summary of war services and years of service. You will also find lists of garrisons, military departments and medical staff.

The records include a digitised image of the original document and a transcript for each individual entry. The amount of information for each entry can vary but most will include:

Transcript

Name and regiment

Image

Years of service at Full and Half pay

Additional service notes

Dates of promotion*

Awarded medals

Wounds

*Promotions usually include a date for Ensign or Cornet rank. Both are the lowest grade of a commissioned officer. Cornet was used for cavalry and Ensign was used by infantry. Both ranks were abolished in 1871. They are equivalent to a Second Lieutenant.

Discover more about the Harts Army List 1840

Hart's Annual Army List, Militia List, and Imperial Yeomanry List was compiled by Lieutenant General H. G. Hart. This unofficial publication is the first of Hart’s annual army lists. He was given approval by military officials and access to military records to create this excellently annotated army list.

The 1840 list includes the names of over 11,000 servicemen. The document is organised by regiment. It also includes lists of military departments, garrisons, general, lieutenant colonels, majors and more.

Abbreviations

K.G. Knight of the Order of the Garter

K.T. Knight of the Order of the Thistle

K.P. Knight of the Order of St. Patrick

G.C.B. Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

K.C.B. Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

C.B. Companion of the Order of the Bath

G.C.M.G. Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George

K.C.M.G. Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George

C.M.G. Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George

G.C.H. Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order

K.C.H. Knight Commander of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order

K.H. Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order

K.C. Knight of the Crescent

T Before the name, denotes that the Officer was at the Battle of Trafalgar

P Before the Name, denotes that the Officer served in the Peninsula, or the South of France

W Waterloo Medal (Officers actually present in either of the actions of the 16th, 17th or 18th June, 1815)